New England Patriots

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson is trending toward leading the backfield in snaps for the third consecutive week when he faces the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon. Gibson rushed 12 times for 63 yards last Saturday against the Los Angeles Chargers, taking advantage of fellow running back Rhamondre Stevenson being in the doghouse amidst consistent ball security concerns. The Patriots haven't commented on their backfield alignment for Week 18, but we'd expect Gibson to remain the primary option once more against the Bills. The 26-year-old has upside in a game where the Bills could rest many of their defensive starters. Gibson struggled against the Chargers' starters last week, but he rushed for 53 yards on six carries (8.8 YPC) once Los Angeles started to play some of its depth defenders. We could see him have similar success once Buffalo turns to some of its non-starters in Week 18. Gibson is a solid RB3 for fantasy football.

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson remains an unreliable fantasy option heading into Sunday's Week 18 contest against the Buffalo Bills. Stevenson was effectively benched last Saturday against the Los Angeles Chargers. While he did log the first touch of the game, he finished the contest with just two carries for one yard while Antonio Gibson rushed the ball 12 times. Gibson has led the Patriots' backfield in snaps for two consecutive weeks, which is the product of Stevenson's poor ball security this season, including a costly Week 16 fumble against the Bills. The Patriots have been somewhat quiet about their personnel decision for Sunday's regular-season finale, but we would expect Stevenson to remain in the doghouse. He's not a dependable fantasy option as the Patriots' season wraps up.

New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk (shoulder) did not practice at all this week and has been ruled out for the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Buffalo Bills. Meanwhile, fellow wideout Kayshon Boutte (illness) was cleared to play. The 22-year-old Polk will finish off what has been a bad rookie season early due to a shoulder injury. The second-round selection just never had much of a chance to excel in 2024 in a bad offense with rookie quarterback Drake Maye struggling to find his footing with limited weapons around him. Polk will finish his first year in the NFL with only 12 catches on 33 targets for 87 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games (seven starts). The Patriots will surely look to bring in upgraded receiving options this offseason, giving Polk and others even more competition.

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (foot) was a limited participant in practice all week and is listed as questionable to play in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Henry will enter the final week of the regular season as a shaky fantasy TE on the TE1/2 borderline. Aside from his injury, the Patriots and Bills have nothing on the line on Sunday besides draft positioning, so there's a chance that Henry doesn't see the field all that much if he's active. If he's ruled out on Sunday morning, Austin Hooper would be a TE sleeper in DFS lineups. Henry has been a low-ceiling, low-floor fantasy TE in 2024 in the low-scoring Patriots offense with rookie quarterback Drake Maye leading the show. He currently ranks as the TE19 in half-PPR points per game (5.0) with 66 catches for 674 yards and only two touchdowns in 16 games played.

New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye (hand) is listed as questionable ahead of the Week 18 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said that Maye would start on Sunday. Now, Maye is in danger of missing the regular season finale due to a right hand injury. If he sits, Joe Milton III would be in line to start this weekend. Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett is also on the roster, but the Pats are likely to go with Milton over him. The former sixth-rounder is an intriguing prospect, but Milton isn't someone worth streaming especially against the Bills defense.